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PRAISE FOR HARRIS VS. STORM - READER FEEDBACK TO TNA IMPACT

From what I can see, the major problem with iMPACT is not the matches, but the commentators. I don't think Don West and Mike Tenay know where the hell they are, for most of the time. For some reason, they seem to believe that they're either on the next iMPACT, or at the upcoming PPV, or later in the night, because they very seldom pay any attention whatsoever to what's going on in the ring. And that's damaging to the show. They have a one hour show, which means that matches which you do have are not going to be 30 minute matches, so you need to emphasize on every little bit of the match. You have to put importance into everything that goes on in the ring, or it looks even more cheap. There are already loads of run-ins, interviews, etc. which make iMPACT extremely fast-paced, and it's the commentator's job to slow the show down a little bit. And they don't.

Nonetheless, I went back and watched Robert Roode Vs Jerry Lynn without the sound on, and it was a pretty good match. Nothing special, but there were a few flashy moves by Jerry Lynn neatly blended with the heel tactics and power of Roode. The match was actually watchable, without the commentary. iMPACT becomes a whole new show when you watch it without the volume on...or that guy who does the commentary for it on Eurosport, in the UK.

Then we have some goofy, and predictable run-ins with Eric Young and Ms. Brooks. Then, Jim Cornette comes down and, predicting his upcoming subliminal speech of "I'm going to stop this attack on MS. Brooks in the hope that I can, at some point, sleep with her", I departed on a toilet break. I don't know if there was boos for that, but there should've been. It is very relieving in a babyface way to see an annoying manger or valet get their ass handed to them. Like Jim Cornette. Musclebuster on Jim Cornette? Nice. The subsequent ranting from 'Jimbo'? No thanks. Actually, having Jimbo turn heel might not be a bad idea.

Then there was a women's match. That's all I have to say about that.

Nice intense promo from Christian Cage and Tomko. Good storyline builder.

And then, the match between James Storm and Chris Harris. I must admit that, for the first three months of this feud, I kind of just stared at the screen, not really paying any attention to what was going on, but then, after the Blindfold match and the Texas Bullrope Match, they finally had a really good, and brutal, final match, at the last PPV. This match was equally as brutal and, although short, was the same kind of good. The highlight of the match was probably how they managed to maintain such a high level of intensity, whilst hitting each other the head with trash can lids. This section was like a cross between Hardcore and Japanese Strong-style wrestling. It worked.

For next week, I would predict it most likely that there will be a Battle Royale, or similar kind of bout, for the final spot. Christian Cage called everyone in the locker room a punk? Maybe. But when were storylines consistent in the modern wrestling world?

All in all, the show was Average, and saved from its usual mediocrity by one good match from Harris/Storm.

**********

TNA IMPACT, JUNE 7, 2007

ROBERT ROODE VS. JERRY LYNN

Roode is one of those characters that now earns the "GET-THE-HECK-OFF-MY-TV" heat from me. I liked Roode as the enforcer for Team Canada, but everything he's done since has been incredibly stupid. TNA is ruining this guy. As a wrestler and a physical specimen, Roode has a lot of potential, but his current character and recent storylines with Eric Young have been horrible and nonsensical. As the Double-A enforcer for Team Canada, his characters was enjoyable and it made sense. But, when Team Canada broke up …. uh, I just don't get it. TNA can't decide whether he's supposed to Arn Anderson (enforcer), or Rick Rude (the name and the robe), or Michael Wallstreet (Robert Roode Inc?). What? Does he have a rich daddy? Did he earn a windfall with some wise investments (ala JBL)? TNA never really explained. He's just the head of some dumb organization that absolutely purpose other than to terrorize poor, defenseless Eric Young. Waaah, waaah, waaah. Ms. Brooks character is useless. Roode searched the world and turned down Heenan, Sensational Sherri, and Col. Parker for what --- Ms. Boobs??? I don't get it. And, don't get me started on the Eric Young crap. it's just dumb --- freaking dumb, and I want it to end NOW! I'm begging you, TNA. Please end this crap soon!!!!!

Jerry Lynn continues to be used much like his Mr. JL character was in WCW. He carries others to decent matches, but no one seems to have faith in his character. And, maybe that's deserved. I haven't ever seen a lot of charisma from Jerry Lynn, which is needed to elevate his status. I do enjoy Jerry Lynn's matches and I love his wrestling ability. He's very much like Lance Storm, only Storm has more charisma.

ERIC YOUNG MAKES A SAVE.

Again, please stop this ridiculous storyline soon.

CORNETTE BOOKS MS. BOOBS IN A MATCH WITH GAIL KIM.

Finally, Ms. Boobs gets do something to earn a paycheck other than stand around at ringside.

DANIELS SAYS HE'S FOLLOWING STING'S ADVICE; STING SAYS HE'S GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH

Good promo segment. Made complete sense for both Sting's and Daniels' character directions. Sets up their eventual feud very well.

DUTT INTRODUCES HIS NEW CHARACTER, A GHANDI-LIKE GURU, TO NASH AND MACHISMO.

Could be interesting. We'll see. I'm not completely sold on Dutt, but we'll see where he goes with the guru character.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SLAMMIVERSARY PRESS CONFERENCE

James Storm spits beer onto former Tennessee Titan Frank Wycheck, and Wycheck responds with a guitar shot on Storm. Seems like it would have made more sense to find a current Tennessee Titan than a former one. Can Storm carry a complete greenhorn to a decent match? We'll wait and see.

ANGLE INFORMS STYLES THAT HE WILL CRIPPLE HIM

Another good segment. Does a lot for both characters. Angle is a bada$$, and Styles seems headed toward a slightly cowardly heel, which I think he good at and given his smaller stature makes sense. I hope he doesn't goes over the top with it like Screamin' Norman Smiley or "scared-at-his-own-shadow" Eric Young. I loved how Cage opened a door and yanked Styles into a nearby room. That was kind of like a brief Scooby Doo moment.

GAIL KIM vs. MS. BOOBS

Decent match. Match went well when Gail Kim was in charge, but it dragged a bit when Ms. Boobs went on offense. Still it was better than most of the recent WWE women's matches lately. By the way, if you think my label "Ms. Boobs" sounds disrespectful, then what about T&A's own announce team. My, how professional the announce teams sounded by lasciviously pointing out that Ms. Boobs is "larger above the waistline than Gail Kim". Yeah, that truly fits with the "We are Wrestling" motto.

TOMKO FINDS CAGE AND ASKS WHY HE SCREWED HIM

Another decent promo segment. Postponed the inevitable feud a little bit… probably until after or maybe at Slammiversary. Sometimes I think these promos go a little overboard with all of the kayfabe "history", trying to appeal to the smark-crowd. But, still it was a decent segment. If they weren't going to blow their wad and have Tomko attack Cage now, then this was the right thing to do.

JAMES STORM vs. CHRIS HARRIS IN A HARDCORE KOTM QUALIFIER

Excellent hardcore-style brawl. Almost worthy of an "E-C-DUB, E-C-DUB, E-C-DUB " chant. Easily the best match of the Storm/Harris feud, which almost makes up for some of the earlier schlock such as the Blindfold Match. The breakup of AMW had really elevated the game and character of James Storm. I really like his character, and most of his work is really good. Harris' character was damaged quite a bit by the blindfold angle. Harris was out of action far too long, causing his character to lose a ton of steam, but Harris seemed to get a lot of his steam back during this particular match. Match ends after an awesome spot where Harris spears Storm THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE STAGE and both men are unable to make it back to the ring before the ref counts 10. My only problem with that was "Where the heck was Miss Tennessee Jacquelyn Jackie Moore?" (Heck, I don’t know what I'm supposed to call her.) Shouldn't she have been trying to revive Storm and/or drag him back to the ring? Little things like that add credibility. Anyway, a minor nitpick to an otherwise very enjoyable match. Well done.

ANGLE AND JOE BRAWL; STYLES ENDS UP IN THE ANKLE LOCK

I love seeing Angle and Joe and never get tired of it. Cowardly Styles takes a cheap shot at Angle, but ends up in the ankle lock. Again, well done by everyone involved.

CAGE DEMANDS TO KNOW HIS KOTM QUALIFIER OPPONENT.

I hope TNA's does everything possible to keep Jim Cornette happy with the organization. I love the Cornette character. It always seem to work for me, with very, very few exceptions. Jim Cornette is better at the GM/Commissioner role than anyone I've seen, which the possible exception of Paul Heyman in the original ECW. Anyway, James E. drops a couple of hints but refuses to reveal the opponent, leaving the fans & Cage guessing. (I'm betting its Jarrett.)

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Good show. The show definitely got better as it progressed, and it left on a crescendo, rather than a dud like many of WWE's Raw and Smackdown shows. If they cut out all of the Robert Roode and Ms. Boobs segments, then I would be inclined to say that the show was very good. Despite there only being one really good wrestling segment, this was the best wrestling show for the entire week.

Todd Jackson
Flint, MI

**********

I'm still bummed about not getting the Steiners vs. Team 3D, but at least Harris vs. Storm was a great match, and it looked like KOTM will be Joe vs. Angle vs. Styles vs. Christian, so it will be a four-man match instead of a five-man bout, which I see as an improvement. 

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